FIM CEV Repsol in Valencia: All set for final round
The FIM CEV Repsol arrives at Valencia with three titles still unresolved: the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship and Kawasaki Z Cup. What’s more, two races are scheduled in both the Moto3™ and Moto2™ categories, leaving things wide open. Whatever happens, excitement is guaranteed at this final FIM CEV Repsol event of the season.
The first and second places taken by Nicolò Bulega (ITA-KTM) in the last round of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship in Jerez, added to the temporary withdrawal of Arón Canet (SPA-Honda) because of injury, has led to growing uncertainty about who will be champion. In addition, the Junior Team VR46 Riders Academy rider comes stronger than ever to Valencia after his brilliant debut as wild card rider in the recent Motul Grand Prix of Valencia. Arithmetically, Albert Arenas (SPA-Husqvarna) and Joan Mir (SPA-Ioda-Honda) are still in with a chance alongside the Italian and Valencian. The teams will have to wait until the end of the first race to get out their calculators before the decisive last race to figure out their best options for taking one of the top positions on the final leaderboard.
A clash of titans is anticipated in the Moto2™ European Championship. Overall leader with five wins, two second and two third places to his credit, Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) is on the right track in the run up to the end of the season. But with two races scheduled there are 50 points up for grabs, so Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech3) – 21 points behind the leader – is still a strong contender, although if Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) wins the first race then he will take the championship outright. With only a few points separating Alan Techer (FRA-Tech3), Luca Marini (ITA-Kalex), Steven Odendaal (RSA-Kalex), Eric Granados (BRA-Kalex) and Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN-Kalex), third place is sure to be hotly contested. The Japanese rider looks a good bet after his explosive ride at Jerez where he earned a rather comfortable second place. As for the Superstock 600 subcategory, it has come down to two riders fighting for the championship: Marcos Ramírez (SPA-Yamaha) and Abián Santana (SPA-Yamaha) are the clear candidates, with to a number of possible riders vying for third place.
With Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) already crowned champion of the Superbike European Championship, interest will focus on the struggle for second and third place. Robertino Pietri (VEN-Yamaha) and Adrián Bonastre (SPA-BMW) are the top contenders: the Venezuelan rider has been on the podium four times this season, once on the top step, while the Spanish rider has the advantage of riding before his home crowd. Just as interesting is the privateer subcategory: Eeki Kuparinen (FIM-BMW) and Pierre Texier (FRA-Kawasaki) are the main contenders here, with Axel Maurin (FRA-Kawasaki) in for a possible second or third place.
The Kawasaki Z Cup riders, who haven’t been on the track since Albacete in September, will be more than ready to race. The battle for the championship is between Joan Sardanyons, Francisco Javier Valera, Daniel Carrau and Victor Lozano – with everything is still to play for.
The race schedule for next Sunday is as follows:
Moto3™ (18 laps): 11.00h
Moto2™ (19 laps): 12.00h
Superbike (19 laps): 13.00h
Moto3™ (18 laps): 14.00h
Moto2™ (19 laps): 15.00h
Kawasaki Z Cup (18 laps): 16.00h
As usual, entrance to the paddock will be free this weekend. In addition, FIM CEV Repsol fans who go on Sunday to the security checkpoint at the main entrance of the Paddock of the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana can get a pass to take part in the Pit Lane walk that will take place before the start of racing.
From Spain, the races can be seen live via the MotoGP Channel of Movistar+ which will broadcast all of the races scheduled in the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship categories. The Energy channel of Mediaset Spain will also cover the FIM CEV Repsol, broadcasting both the Moto3™ Junior World Championship races, the first Moto2™ European Championship race, and the Superbike European Championship race. BT Sports (UK) and Eurosport through Eurosportplayer (France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland), will also offer coverage of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship races, with live broadcasts of all of the races scheduled for this weekend on one of their TV channels or via digital broadcast. In Italy, Sky will broadcast live both races of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship and Moto2™ European Championship.DigiSport has joined the television networks interested in the FIM CEV Repsol and in Romania and Hungary, will broadcast all the Moto3 ™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship races.
Race highlights will have a global reach through FOX (Asia and Australia) and ESPN Deportes (Latin America).
In other countries, all the races can be seen on the Championship Youtube channel.
All the results and other information about the Championship can be found on the official website: www.fimcevrepsol.com